故事类阅读理解模拟训练(131668)-高三英语阅读(685)-21英语网

A

When I was 12 years old, I already knew that my teen years were going to be the worst years of my life. I was a total outsider, bullied (欺凌) at school. I felt completely alone in my small town.

But by starting to do volunteer work when I was 14, I turned my problem into a passion for helping others. The opportunity to practice kindness made me feel like my life had a greater purpose. The more positive energy I shared, the more kindness and appreciation I received. I realized that my purpose in life would be to reach out to people, specifically teenagers, and help them feel less alone.

Books were my true friends back then. I was so thankful that the authors wrote those books. The kindness they offered me with their books saved my life. One of my biggest dreams was to become an author so I could write books that would help other teenagers the way those books helped me.

After surviving terrible experiences at school and at home, I made a choice to take the optimistic, positive road in the next steps of my journey. My dream career, one I thought was only possible for the authors I loved, is what I am doing now. I have been a full-time author of teen novels since 2007 and am grateful for this amazing opportunity to reach out to readers every single day.

Kindness saved me when I needed help the most. Even small acts of kindness can change someone’s life. You never know what someone else is going through. But by practicing daily kindness, you become an architect of positive change.

1. What was the author’s life like when he was 12?

A. Boring. B. Peaceful. C. Unhappy. D. Meaningful.

2. How did the volunteer work benefit the author?

A. It made him popular in his town.

B. It helped him find the meaning of life.

C. It helped him understand others’ lives better.

D. It helped to shape his dream career.

3. Why did the author choose writing as his job?

A. He was inspired by his teacher.

B. He could pass positive energy to readers.

C. He wanted to share his school experiences.

D. He found he had a talent for writing.

4. What does the author suggest readers do in the last paragraph?

A. Say “no” to bullies bravely.

B. Make positive changes in their lives.

C. Treat others with kindness in daily life.

D. Learn to care more about others’ feelings.

B

Love, joy, and the warm feeling of pulling together to get through tough times don’t cost a thing. But gifts do cost money. So, what’s a poor family to do?

When Christmas season rolled around, I told my mother that the only thing I wanted was a pogo stick (弹簧单高跷). However, my mother told me they were way too expensive and that we simply couldn’t afford one.

On a Saturday afternoon a couple of weeks before Christmas, my mom and dad told me we needed to go to Sears to pay our credit card bill. While my mother and I were paying the bill, my dad said, “I’ll be right back – I need to see something in the tool department.” A little later, my dad came back with a long box. I remember wondering at that moment if there was a pogo stick in that box.

When we got home, my dad put the box in the garage (车库). While my parents were busy with their chores, I quietly walked out to the garage and found the box. I hoped a pogo stick would be inside – but when I opened it, there was just an old broom (扫帚). And so it looked like Christmas morning would be disappointing.

But after all the wrapping paper (包装纸) was cleaned up, my dad said he needed to tend to something in the garage. When he came back in, he was carrying a beautiful pogo stick. I couldn’t believe it! My parents probably got quite a laugh from the trick they played on me.

Although we didn’t have much money, my parents gave me the most important gift of all: lots of love. My dad worked hard to provide for us and my mother knew how to stretch a dollar. That was over 60 years ago and I still think about those wonderful Christmas memories every year during the holiday season. My parents were the best and I will never forget all the joy they brought into my life.

5. Why did the author’s mother refuse to give him a pogo stick?

A. They’re dangerous for kids to play with.

B. They didn’t have enough money to buy one.

C. She had already bought him another gift.

D. He already had too many pogo sticks.

6. How did the author probably feel before he opened the box?

A. Amazed. B. Disappointed. C. Hopeful. D. Doubtful.

7. What does the author think the most valuable gift he received from his parents was?

A. His pogo stick.

B. Their unconditional love.

C. The ability to get through tough times.

D. All the great memories of Christmas.

C

Whenever I heard strangers singing out loud, whether it was in the supermarket or on the street, I used to think how annoying it was.

That was until a few months ago.

Recently, my daughter Zoe started her second year of middle school with a new sense of awareness, asking me to fix the “little girl” pattern on her wheelchair seat.

Not wanting her to stand out at school, I spent hours filling in pale yellow stars with a black marker, eager to erase whatever childish signs I could.

Shortly after, Zoe got really sick and had to miss 20 days of school.

This meant our days were filled with rushing between hospital appointments and meetings with the school, as we tried to make sure she didn’t fall behind on her schoolwork.

I felt pulled back to a time when she was little and her sickness was a huge part of her life. Back then, it seemed like Zoe lived in hospitals, as she spent so much time in them.

No matter how sick she got, however, she always had a positive attitude.

But this was different: Zoe was no longer singing like she normally did.

Zoe usually sings all the time, whether she’s playing, riding in the car, or just doing her homework. There was no need for a radio in our house; Zoe provided the music for us.

Consumed (被折磨) with my motherly worries, it was more concerning to me than her sickness.

One day, however, I heard her beautiful voice as I was cooking dinner. I stopped what I was doing and just smiled. “Pure delight,” I thought to myself.

Her voice slowly grew stronger, and soon, both the car and the house were filled with her music once more.

How had I not noticed her singing had completely stopped, weeks and weeks ago? Now, thankfully, she’s back in school, smiling and singing, and I’m thankful for each and every song she sings.

These days, whenever I hear a stranger singing a song to themselves, I don’t get mad.

Instead, I smile, as I know that by singing out loud, they’re simply sharing their happiness with the world.

8. How did the author used to feel when she heard strangers singing?

A. Bothered. B. Excited. C. Surprised. D. Confused.

9. Which of the following best describes Zoe?

A. Considerate and helpful. B. Competitive and hardworking.

C. Optimistic and strong-willed. D. Self-aware and modest.

10. What does “it” in Paragraph 11 refer to?

A. Zoe’s love for music.

B. Zoe’s falling behind at school.

C. Zoe’s silence during her sickness.

D. Zoe’s slow recovery from her illness.

11. What does singing mean to people, according to the author?

A. A way to get rid of stress. B. A way to express love to others.

C. A way to communicate with others. D. A way to share happiness.

D

On a recent trip to the island of Newfoundland, Canada, my husband asked our talkative cab driver what made him most proud to be from there.

“Our generosity and hospitality (好客),” he replied in a strong local accent. “Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, someone will stop to help. People here are kind like that.”

His answer lingered in my mind during that ride with my husband and teenage kids, as we headed out to explore on the first day of our vacation.

Little did I know we were about to experience some of that remarkable Newfoundland kindness for ourselves.

We met Alma that same morning at the start of a long hike.

Our teenagers hurried ahead, and as we walked behind, admiring the scenery, two women in sunglasses and summer hiking gear stopped.

They’d heard us discussing different routes, then asked if we’d like suggestions.

They looked to be in their 40s, and were both enthusiastic to share their local expertise.

We listened eagerly, taking mental notes, until one of the women asked, “You have a car, right?”

I explained that there were no cars available during our week on the island, so we had to rely on cabs instead.

“Oh no,” she said, “you need a car.” And then, as casually as if offering a piece of chewing gum (口香糖), she said: “Take mine!”

Dumbfounded, my husband and I just smiled in disbelief.

“Why not?” She insisted. “You need a car to get to know all these places.”

“But you don’t even know us,” I said.

“That doesn’t matter,” she continued with absolute determination.

Stunned, I looked over at her friend, who shrugged and said, “That’s Alma.”

Forty minutes of talking later, my family climbed into Alma’s car.

We spent the rest of our vacation discovering different areas of this beautiful island.

But it wasn’t the groups of whales we saw, or the vast areas of woodland, that made this place so memorable.

Instead, it was the act of kindness from a complete stranger that made us realize how special Newfoundland really was.

Next year, there’s no doubt where we’ll be taking our summer vacation. Who knows what act of kindness we’ll meet then?

12. What problem did the author’s family have in Newfoundland?

A. They couldn’t understand the local accent.

B. Their car broke down on the first day.

C. They got lost during a hike.

D. They didn’t have a car.

13. The underlined word “dumbfounded” in Paragraph 12 is closest in meaning to ______.

A. shocked B. satisfied C. relieved D. embarrassed

14. What impressed the author most during her stay in Newfoundland?

A. The talkative cab driver.

B. The whales swimming.

C. The beautiful scenery of the island.

D. The help from an enthusiastic stranger.

15. What can we infer about the author from the last paragraph?

A. She is looking forward to meeting Alma once more.

B. She expects to visit Newfoundland again.

C. She hasn’t decided where to go next year.

D. She also wants to be kind to others during vacation.

E

Recently, I was interviewed by a parenting magazine for a story it was running on eco-parenting (环保式育儿).

The reporter explained that it was expensive to be an eco-parent, with organic baby foods and clothing to buy.

But I told her. “I’m sorry, but eco-parenting isn’t about buying ecologically-produced versions of products we think we may need. It’s about discovering what we don’t need.”

I told the reporter about my daughter Sarah’s simple wish for a pink balloon on her birthday, but she felt that things would inevitably (不可避免地) change as Sarah grew up and adopted more materialistic (强调物质享受的) desires.

I agreed that Sarah may not always be interested in such simple gifts as balloons, but I couldn’t agree that a birthday needs to be about materialistic desires.

To me, a birthday is an opportunity to celebrate the life and the development of a person.

Do we need to see a table covered with gifts to know that our family and friends love us? Somewhere in our consumer culture, we’ve confused material items with expressions of love and gratitude (感激).

My own birthday was just a few days ago. It came and went in the middle of a snow storm, and my birthday party was canceled. While my husband and I spent much of the day clearing the snow, Sarah made some little dolls for me.

And when we came in to rest, Ula climbed onto my lap and sing Happy Birthday.

Throughout the day, my friends called to wish me a happy day, and my mother called, upset that she couldn’t visit.

Later, my husband apologized that he was unable to do anything special for me that day.

“I had a fantastic birthday,” I replied, as I thought of all the love I’d felt.

16. What does the author think eco-parents should do according to the article?

A. Buy organic foods and clothing for their kids.

B. Teach their kids to protect the environment.

C. Try to avoid buying useless things for their kids.

D. Allow their kids to make their own choices in life.

17. What does the author intend to express with Sarah’s story?

A. A pink balloon is the best birthday gift for girls.

B. Kids’ material desire will change as they grow up.

C. We don’t have to express our love with expensive gifts.

D. A birthday is a good occasion for us to express our love.

18. Why did the author think that her birthday was fantastic?

A. Her husband did something special for her.

B. Many friends came and celebrated it with her.

C. She received meaningful gifts from her children.

D. She felt a lot of love from her family and friends.